As
the divinity hovering over this Mokshapuri is lifting many god --
intoxicated, ever since Lord Maheswar at the request of bhaktas made
this sacred hill as his permanent seat to liberating the
Saranagathas in the too distant past, the pious terrestrials made
the celestials descend down by their penance. It is one of the eight
Sthanas of Lord Siva, who came down here to appease the causeless
anger of his youngest son Subrahmanya, staying here and made it
later his eternal abode, captivated by the unusual glory and
picturesque ness of this lovely hills, shining like an emerald
amidst the thick growth of primeval forests and to give succour to
the devotees.

And
it is here the devout princess Chandravathi worshipped Lord Siva
with jasmine flowers that gave the august name of Mallikarjuna -
white jasmine to the presiding deity of the temple; it is with a
mere darsan of the sikhara of this shrine, one is released from the
cycle of births and deaths; "Srisaila Sikhra Drushtvat
Punarjanma Nalabhyate"; it is this region visited by Lord
Siva once on hunting expedition with a chosen few of His
Pramadaganas, when His chance acquaintance with a local Chenchu
damsel consummated in wedlock, and so endearingly called Chenchu
Mallayya by Chenchu tribe.